Web Headlines

Headlines from around the Web for Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Compiled by Melanie Bender

Robots to the Nurses' Station, Stat!

NetworkWorld

Called "Tug" and "Homer," the robots from Aethon Inc. deliver drugs and track medical equipment at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, N.C. CIO Dave Dillehunt estimates using the robots has already saved the hospital $150,000 a year.

Gates to Appear Again Before Congress on Eve of H-1B Visa Rush

ComputerWorld

Bill Gates will likely renew his appeal for more foreign workers to be allowed into the country when he testifies before the House Committee on Science and Technology on March 12. The timing of Gates' appearance on Capitol Hill is potentially explosive, as the start of the annual application rush for H-1B visas will begin less than three weeks after he testifies.

Virginia Supreme Court: No First Amendment Right To Spam

InformationWeek

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday narrowly upheld the felony conviction of Jeremy Jaynes of Raleigh, N.C., for illegal spamming, rejecting his claims that falsifying message headers is protected under the First Amendment right of free speech.

Minnesota Sues Maker of Breath Testers Used in DWI Arrests

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Minnesota has sued CMI Inc., maker of the state's 260 breath-testing devices, to turn over the machines' computer code as hundreds of defendents in drunken driving cases have sought court orders to inspect the code. CMI has refused, stating the code is proprietary information.

Companies Rally for More IT Work Visas

Federal Computer Week

With the April 1 application deadline for H-1B Visas approaching, the Compete America coalition, which includes many IT companies such as Boeing, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft, are asking lawmakers to raise the 65,000 annual cap on the visas for highly skilled foreign workers.

Voting Technology Remains an Issue at the Polls

Government Computer News

Many voting precincts began dumping mechanical lever systems and paper ballots in favor of electronic systems following the 2000 election. But questions about the reliability and security of computer-based touch screen systems have led some precincts to abandon them.

McCain Calls Virtual Border Fence in Arizona a 'Disgrace'

The Arizona Daily Star

McCain said fence contractor Boeing Corp. did not consult with states, the U.S. Border Patrol and other agencies as it spent money on the 28-mile array of radars and surveillance cameras. He said it is disappointing when a major contractor gets a contract that turns into a failed effort.

A Virtual Travel Agent With All the Answers

The New York Times

Alaska Airlines Web site now features a virtual assistant named Jenn. Designed by the NextIT Corporation, she uses natural-language communications to retrieve information and even ask follow-up questions to clarify intent.